He met with George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), a former NBA player and college. ” With Vaccaro at Adidas and his former best friend George Raveling running grassroots basketball at. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan / Courtesy of Amazon Studios. PHOTO: Ana Carballosa/Prime Matthew Maher, Matt Damon, and Jason Bateman as Peter Moore, Sonny Vaccaro, and Rob. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling is the first person to talk to Michael about Nike. ''But that's not. Vaccaro and Jordan. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Yet he no longer speaks to George Raveling,. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. Raveling took up a rival. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker); college ball coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans); and Jordan’s mom Deloris (Viola Davis) — essentially. 00:00. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. Directed by Ben Affleck, this '80s-set movie based on real events stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike. Revelling/Reckoning: Directed by Zach Neumeyer. There’s also a fascinating section detailing Vaccaro’s strained relationship with George Raveling, the best man at his wedding, with whom he had a falling out, Vaccaro says, after he refused. The legend says Sonny Vaccaro convinced Jordan to come to Nike. The film also stars Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Matt Damon as marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, Chris Messina as sports agent David Falk, Marlon Wayans as basketball coach George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as creative director Peter Moore, and Jason Bateman as Nike chairman Rob. who plays coach George Raveling. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Starring the dynamic duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the movie weaves a captivating narrative around Vaccaro’s audacious endeavor. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in 'Air'. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris. This reflects when Marlon Wayans’ George Raveling tells how Martin Luther King’s famous speech was spontaneous. No, this story is about the men behind the deal – Affleck as Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro,. Sonny Vaccaro credits his relationship with Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris, as the catalyst for one of the most significant deals in sports marketing history. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Julius Tennon as James Jordan. C. George Raveling Born: June 27, 1937 Birthplace: Washington, D. on a landmark. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” Jordan told USA Today. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. As the real George also notes on his Linkedin page, he was instrumental in the Nike. In the film, Vaccaro first met with Jordan through his friend George Raveling, who was the assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. Below are step-by-step instructions for how to sign up for Amazon Prime Video’s free trial. Until, that is, Nike’s Sonny Vaccaro convinced his CEO Phil Knight to go all-out and blow their annual budget on recruiting one player: Michael Jordan. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Marlon Wayans will play George Raveling, a trailblazer in college basketball who was the first Black coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. Air will be led by Affleck and Damon as they portray the respective roles of Nike co-founder Phil Knight and sports marketing executive John Paul Vincent “Sonny” Vaccaro. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at Nike. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. SONNY VACCARO. (Jason Bateman), David Falk (Chris Messina), Peter Moore (Matthew Maher), George Raveling (Marlon. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris. Olympic team that won gold in LA. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. Affleck directs Damon for the first time as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, while he also steps in front of the camera to play Nike co-founder Phil Knight, with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris. He was replaced by George Raveling, the best man at Vaccaro’s wedding, who also talked crap about Sonny in the press for doing the same stuff that Nike Hired George to do, an attempt by Knight. Vaccaro and George Raveling, former best friends who now are bitter enemies, simply personify the battle between two corporations searching for product loyalty and increased sales. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). With only $250,000 to spend on a few players, schlubby basketball scout Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) is the one tapped to find the court stars who can take Nike to the promised land, though most of the. Most notably Wayans was an assistant coach to Bobby Knight for the United States Olympic team in 1984 which Michael Jordan was a part of and went. John (Sonny) Vaccaro has clout. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. At the time, Nike had. He asked his old friend George Raveling, one of the coaches of the National Olympic team, to contact Micheal Jordan and set up a meeting. Matt Damon is the star of the movie, as he plays Sonny Vaccaro,. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what. Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. Affleck stars alongside Matt Damon (as Sonny Vaccaro), Viola Davis (as Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon. Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. The biopic will focus on Sonny Vaccaro, the creator of the Air Jordan sneakers. While Sonny Vaccaro was convinced that he wanted to get Michael Jordan on board, he was on the fence about bypassing David Falk, MJ’s agent, and talking directly to his parents. ". Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing with Nike. You get to see Ben Affleck as Nike founder and CEO, Phil. '. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. Falk, Raveling, and White are all people involved with either Jordan or Nike, while Viola. From Sonny Vaccaro to Deloris Jordan, here is what you need to know about the real people who inspired the characters in Ben Affleck’s ‘Air. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. “You can never say never,” said Gary Charles, the head coach of the New York Panthers and a Vaccaro lieutenant from 1992-2006, when Vaccaro hung up his kicks and retired . He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. Air, which will be released in theaters on April 5, tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who, in the 1980s, was in charge of Nike’s fledgling basketball division. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. Marlon Wayans (The Curse of Bridge Hollow) as George Raveling, Jordan’s assistant coach on the 1984. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Ben Affleck, who directs the film, stars as Nike co-founder and former chairman Phil Knight. In Air, Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro,. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what he had to do. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Wayans' character Raveling worked with the USA basketball team (and therefore Jordan) at the. Recommendations Slide 1 of 7The first trailer is here for “Air,” the movie starring Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike executive trying to sign basketball rookie Michael. George Raveling, Director for International Basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Williams and Raveling insist Williams does not receive money personally. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Jordan credits Raveling ( played in the film by Marlon Wayons ), a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer who in 1983 became Iowa’s first African. Matt Damon’s Nike apparel player scout Sonny Vaccaro enters a convenience store (painstakingly re-created to authentically match the era, right down to athletes on cereal boxes), also casually. Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) meets with salesman Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) and expresses his growing disappointment with the company's performance and lack of vision around the basketball. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling: [to Sonny] You bypass the agents and talk directly to the family, you’re going to. The debut trailer for Air premiered on Wednesday, February 9th, and quickly introduces Sonny Vaccaro as he's brought in by Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Ben Affleck). Raveling had a falling out with. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, one of Jordan’s coaches at the 1984 Olympics; and Viola Davis as Michael’s mother, Deloris Jordan. Matt Damon is Sonny Vaccaro. In the movie ‘ Air ’, it was depicted that Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) and Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans) met at a California bar and the latter explained to the Nike talent scout just how much. Matt Damon is starring in "Air" as sneaker salesman turned former Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, with Ben Affleck playing Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Alongside Affleck, Davis and Damon, the film sees Jason Bateman playing Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk and Marlon Wayans as George. Damon stars as Sonny Vaccaro, the maverick Nike salesman who signed rising basketball player Michael Jordan to a shoe contract in the mid-’80s that launched the global, multibillion-dollar. George Raveling, the former USC coach and current. The initial. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Don Yaeger was an Associate Editor at Sports Illustrated magazine. Visit Amazon Prime Video’s website. ". What we know about the Air cast and crew. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. Matt Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst. Talent scout Sonny Vaccaro came up with the bold idea of building a sneaker line around a recent NBA draft pick by the name of Michael Jordan. Sonny was hired by Phil Knight (portrayed by Affleck) to revamp his basketball shoe division, which has only gotten smaller since Vaccaro’s arrival. Knight took exception to. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, who tries to win over Jordan’s mother, Deloris (Viola Davis), amid the negotiation process. The superstar himself, meanwhile, credits a different man with the deal: “Sonny likes to take the credit,” Jordan has said, “But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. The same goes for Hampton High coach. "Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Vaccaro claimed about being investigated by the FBI for corporate espionage after he got fired from Nike. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. Raveling and Vaccaro were also close friends, and the basketball coach was instrumental in making the Nike deal with the Jordan family a reality by putting in a. As the film's version of Nike. Nike is looking for a way to become one of the premier basketball shoe brands in the U. The biopic will focus on Sonny Vaccaro, the creator of the Air Jordan sneakers. You’ve got to try. "I traveled to. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. “He used to always try. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. Bel-Air guest star and noted comedian Marlon Wayans plays George Raveling, a noted college basketball player and coach who would go on to be the first African American head basketball coach in the PAC-8, per the real George's LinkedIn page. The ensemble star cast of the movie features Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris. "Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Michael Jordan was not interested in signing the deal with Nike at first, but Vaccaro convinced Deloris Jordan in the early 1980s and used that connection to sign Jordan to his first. Recommendations Slide 1 of 7 Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) First up on the list is the main man himself,. With Sarah Claspell, Shannon Coffey, Nicole Drespel, Melissa Gomez. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. John (Sonny) Vaccaro has clout. The film focuses on Vaccaro and Knight, as well as Jordan's parents James and Delores. Nike colleges. George Raveling: There’s nothing cool about Nike. Raveling, who calls Vaccaro ''Pear'' because of his shape, has been a confidant since the 1960s. -George Raveling; Your voice tells you to do some stupid sh!t. Instead, he briefly met Jordan with the help of his old friend George Raveling, pitching Jordan the idea of a shoe designed solely around him. Chris Tucker as Howard W. Tensions run high between Fennel,. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon. Raveling’s shorthand with Sonny speaks of a past history and trust communicated with small gestures and easy laughs. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. And the icon selected Viola Davis to play his mother Deloris, who was pivotal in the negotiation. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. Gustaf Skarsgård as. Prime Video’s ‘Air’ charts the origins of the Air Jordan brand, focusing on the story behind its inception and the efforts it took for Nike to get Micheal Jordan on their side. In Air, Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike exec, gets the distinct honor of delivering said Inspirational Speech at the film’s climactic moment—which,. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. S. ”. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. Michael Jordan himself has also given credit to George Raveling for. You’ve got to try. to rapid success in the shoe-making. Long gone. Wayans has been cast as college basketball trailblazer George Raveling, who was the first Black coach in two iconic conferences—the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling . The center of “Air” is Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a Nike exec with a basketball scout’s eye for rising talent. George Raveling initially urged Michael Jordan to join Nike. Affleck stars as Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at Nike. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Sonny believes he can restore Nike to its former glory by putting immense talent behind a sneaker. ' Photo: Ana Carballosa. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. He is the co-author of Under the Tarnished Dome: How Notre Dame Betrayed Its Ideals for Football Glory, Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL, and George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson and. Amazon Studios has released NEW STILLS for their upcoming AIR! AIR features an all-star cast, including Matt Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. February 9, 2023. “We talk often, sometimes daily for long stretches,” he said. The starry cast includes Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. The movie tells the story of how Nike and former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro pursued a rookie MJ and eventually collaborated with him for a blockbuster deal that went on to revolutionize the sneakers industry. George Raveling: Jessica Green: Katrina Sainz: Julius Tennon: James Jordan: Who is in 'AIR' in 2023?. Director: Ben Affleck. Now Raveling works for Nike and he and Sonny are former friends. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. Ben Affleck 's latest film, Air, is a true story based on Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro 's successful signing of then-rising superstar Michael Jordan. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris. Instead. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. "Stockton's. There is a scene in the film where Sonny Vaccaro, after having a conversation with George Raveling (the assistant coach of the U. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. AIR | Official Trailer. Getting Fired from Nike. But George Raveling knew all of Vaccaro’s tricks, and according to former Nike and Adidas executive David Bond, the former best friends “were doing whatever they could to get the key players. Jordan said Vaccaro “likes to take credit,” but that it was marketing executive and former basketball player George Raveling (played in the film by Marlon Wayans) that sold him on Nike. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. I t was a cutthroat, lucrative, and often corrupt culture that Sonny Vaccaro and his sneaker company competitors created during the ’90s and early ’00s, when Adidas, Nike, Reebok, and others zealously sought to find “the next Michael Jordan. AVALON, N. George Raveling. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Wayans plays George Raveling,. Marlon Wayans even leaves a strong if brief impression as Jordan’s former Olympics coach George Raveling. The footage features Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) questioning Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. That’s probably not a revelation to anyone who’s been following high school and college basketball recruiting for years, and familiar with names like Sonny Vaccaro and George Raveling. Alex G. Marlon Wayans will play George Raveling, a trailblazer in college basketball who was the first Black coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. Air is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery. Raveling, who calls Vaccaro ''Pear'' because of his shape, has been a confidant since the 1960s. Smart guy. S. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. The plot. Wayans has been cast as college basketball trailblazer George Raveling, who was the first Black coach in two iconic conferences—the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. E. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Coach George Raveling. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. George Raveling, Vaccaro journeys to Wilmington, North Carolina, to persuade Michael’s mother, Deloris,. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix split following nine years. Ana Carballosa/Prime Video; David E. "I traveled to. Watch on. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. A friend of Vaccaro’s, Raveling first introduced the idea of signing Nike and Jordan. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in 'Air. Air will be led by Affleck and Damon as they portray the respective roles of Nike co-founder Phil Knight and sports marketing executive John Paul Vincent “Sonny” Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. Sonny’s travels take him to meetings with the influential coach and mentor George Raveling (Marlon Wayans)—and to the Jordan home, where he has a backyard bench summit with Michael’s mother. Few figures in sportswear are as impactful as the great Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny and former coach George Raveling. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. George Raveling, a basketball coach, was the best man at their wedding. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Affleck's longtime friend and longtime collaborator plays. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. The Nike executives, salesmen, and. Vaccaro was a significant figure in the. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. AIR stars Matt Damon as the outspoken Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Michael’s mother, who was a fierce advocate for. CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) tells Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro like a disappointed dad,. ''But that's not Sonny. However, the founder of Nike, Phil Knight spoke against Vaccar. The dynamics. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. The former NBA Champion claimed that a Nike Executive named George Raveling was responsible for his change of heart. Joining the Good Will Hunting stars are Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White. Despite his rumored deal with Adidas, Vaccaro believes that Jordan is the generational talent that will change Nike forever and after an inspirational chat with George Raveling, Vaccaro decides to. Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The new posters see Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro while Affleck is seen as Nike co-founder Phil Knight. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Olympic team that won gold in LA. -Sonny. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Sonny Vaccaro was planning to pursue other business plans that did not involve Nike. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), a friend of Vaccaro’s who coached Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball team, weighs in with encouragement. He asked his old friend George Raveling, one of the coaches of the National Olympic team, to contact Micheal Jordan and set up a meeting. Phil Knight (Affleck) and Marketing V. S. "A lot of people want to take credit for signing Michael Jordan, most obviously Sonny Vaccaro. Knight took exception to. In 2015, Michael Jordan shared his perspective on the events leading up to his deal with Nike in an interview with USA Today. That’s probably not a revelation to anyone who’s been following high school and college basketball recruiting for years, and familiar with names like Sonny Vaccaro and George Raveling. Create or log into. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Matt Damon in 'Air' and Sonny Vaccaro. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. Jordan said Vaccaro “likes to take credit” but that it was marketing executive and former basketball player George Raveling who sold him on Nike. George Raveling is crazy. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. . Getting Fired from Nike. — When it comes to the July recruiting period, the Wild West days of Sonny Vaccaro vs. Played by Matt Damon. ) to hear their proposal. (IMDb) Change Photo Log Report Last Update: 4 months ago“There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans says as George Raveling in the trailer for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon‘s new movie “Air. Elsewhere, the cast features Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris. Air: Directed by Ben Affleck. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. The story will center. Director Ben Affleck 's '80s-set film Air recounts the genesis of the Air Jordan sports apparel line with Matt Damon playing Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis portraying. The cast also includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris Tucker as Howard White. Then actually my parents made me go out to (Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Once Nike agreed, Vaccaro used his close friend, basketball coach George Raveling, to connect him to Jordan. From Sonny Vaccaro to Deloris Jordan, here is what you need to know about the real people who inspired the characters in Ben Affleck's 'Air. 1/200. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. Image via Amazon Studios. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. The basketball star wanted Nike executive Howard White, who would become vice president of the Jordan Brand, and former college basketball coach George Raveling to be included in the story. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. . Crafts/DIY. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). Sonny Vaccaro now in his. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. Vicki Gunvalson from 'RHOC' said there are no good single men anymore but Peter Madrigal from 'Vanderpump Rules' wants to show her there are. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air. Raveling says that Vaccaro's emergence was a matter of good timing: Nike needed a front man, and Sonny knew the people. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. At the center of the story is Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon, who put on "a few extra pounds" and wore a body suit for the big-gutted part), the Nike talent scout who bets his career on his desperate. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. He asked his old. Naturally, Jordan has expressed his gratitude towards Vaccaro but credits former coach George Raveling for first encouraging the now-60-year-old to sign a deal with Nike. Now Ben has told the story that he met with Michael Jordan in order to receive his blessing, and that led to parts for Howard White (Chris Tucker), George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) and a mandate. who plays coach George Raveling. KGW speaks with Sonny Vaccaro, portrayed by Matt Damon in upcoming film 'Air'. In the movie, Michael's difficult agent, David Falk (portrayed. Sonny's story is. Even what it means, “Adidas”, “All day I dream about sex. In hindsight, it's a eureka moment. P. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. The starry cast includes Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Vaccaro’s storied relationship with Nike ended on a. While Sonny Vaccaro was convinced that he wanted to get Michael Jordan on board, he was on the fence about bypassing David Falk, MJ’s agent, and talking directly to his parents. --Vaccaro’s personal friends include college coaches such as USC’s George Raveling, who was the best man at his wedding, and Georgetown’s Thompson, who. Sonny Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. In doing so, Vaccaro ended up having a falling out with his friend George Raveling, who served as a coach at Southern California, Iowa, and Washington State. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. So he flies to Los Angeles and seeks advice from his good friend George Raveling, the famed Olympic basketball coach, played here by Marlon Wayans. Jordan prior to meeting her in ‘Air,’ for the sake of elevating the charm. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. The first was George Raveling, an. His colleagues Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), one of Jordan’s coaches at the 1984 Olympics, all try to dissuade him. (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker); college ball coach George Raveling. Enter Sonny Vaccaro, a tenacious Nike employee tasked with discovering a fresh face for the brand. The movie depicts Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro seeking advice from Raveling, Jordan’s trusted Olympic coach, to help sign the NBA rookie to a blockbuster shoe deal in 1984. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. Sonny Vaccaro's Side of the Story. Affleck serves as director and co-producer alongside Damon, David. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife Pam live in Calabasas, California. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Inspired by the true story of Nike's partnership with Michael Jordan, the. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. ”. Jordan Sr. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had a close friendship, so much so that Raveling served as the best man at Sonny's second wedding. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Phil Knight is sinful. . Of course, in the sneaker business, they’re.